No. 25 Gilman will be playing McDonogh for the 100th time in football on Saturday. (Photo: Gilman Football).
No. 25 Gilman travels to McDonogh Saturday in historic 100th meeting
The second-oldest rivalry in Maryland rarely disappoints. Last season, McDonogh (Owings Mills) came from behind to win for the second consecutive year, toppling the Greyhounds 21-14 in overtime at Gilman (Baltimore). This season, the game is at McDonogh and because it is the 100th meeting, 3,000 extra seats are being brought in. It probably won’t be enough.
RELATED: Vote for the Super 25 Game of the Week
The two schools have been building up to this game, including charity projects between the two, for weeks. Gilman owns a 59-35-5 series edge and is 9-1 and ranked No. 1 in the state poll while McDonogh is 6-2 and ranked No. 9 in Maryland. It’s a throwback rivalry, with no admission charge to the game and no parking fees. Before Saturday’s game, there’s a 5K run and a breakfast at McDonogh.
No. 5 Colquitt County has a big test Friday at undefeated Camden County
Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) and Camden County (Kingsland) played an epic game last season, with seven lead changes in a Colquitt 28-24 victory in Moultrie. The Packers are looking to win the 1-AAAAA title and ensure a good spot in the playoffs.
Colquitt has been led by quarterback Chase Parrish, who has thrown for 1,861 yards and 23 touchdowns, including 11 to wide receiver Kiel Pollard. Pollard has also run for six touchdowns.
RELATED: Super 25 Expert rankings
Camden will look to keep the ball away from the Packers, using three running backs: Harrison Poole; Mickey Packard; and Brandon McMaster, who have run for 450 or more yards.
Cinco Ranch looks to end No. 11 Katy’s district reign Saturday
Katy has been dominant in District 19-6A with a 46-game winning streak in district play. The frequent runner-up in the district has been Cinco Ranch (Katy). The Tigers have won six consecutive district titles, but the Cougars are the last district team to defeat Katy, taking a 28-21 victory in overtime in 2008. Last season, the Tigers defeated the Cougars 51-0 and Katy (9-0) has been dominant again this season.
The Tigers set a school record for points in a 84-0 defeat of Tompkins (Katy) last week. Cinco Ranch is also 9-0, but needed a second-half surge to defeat Strake Jesuit (Houston) 37-13 last week.
No. 17 DeMatha vs. Good Counsel still a big deal Friday
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) have owned the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title since 2003. While No. 14 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) is 9-0 and the top team so far this season in the WCAC, DeMatha and Good Counsel are still in position to reach the WCAC playoffs and win the title again.
Good Counsel (5-3) owns a 12-7 edge in the series and won the regular-season meeting 21-0 last year only to lose 29-28 to the Stags in overtime in the WCAC championship.
RELATED: Super 25 Computer rankings
DeMatha (8-1) has only lost to Gonzaga while two of the Falcons’ losses have come in overtime (to Gilman and St. John’s of Washington, D.C.) and the other loss was to Gonzaga.
No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas has a tough test in Flanagan on Friday
When St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) plays host to Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) on Friday, the game won’t matter for the playoffs, but plenty of Broward County pride will be on the line. The Raiders and Falcons are both 7-1, but Aquinas is looking forward to the 7A state playoffs and the Falcons hope to contend for the 8A state title.
Flanagan has won five in a row since it dropped out of the Super 25 rankings with a 13-12 loss to South Plantation (Plantation).
Aquinas has won two in a row since its 6-3 loss to Deerfield Beach but will face Flanagan without two key players. Quarterback Jake Allen is out with a stress fracture in his lumbar and defensive end Nick Bosa is out for the season with a knee injury.
